Combined air pump and sewing machine



April 8,'1947. w. o. RUNCIE 2,418,483

COMBINED AIR #UMP AND SEWING MACHINE Filed Deo. 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l vllllllllllllllll W0.Ru na z'e' A www April 8, 1947. W. o. RUNCIE COMBINED AR PUMP AND SEWING MACHINE Filed DSC. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 8, 1947 CQNBINED AIR PUMP AND SEWING MACHINE Walter O. Runcie, Lima, Peru Application Becember 26, 19461, Serial No. 569,820

1 claim. l

Ihis invention relates to a combined air pump and sewing machine construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a built-in pump construction which is formed as part of the needle carrier assembly for providing 4ai-r impulses to a relooping needle as embodied in my co-pending application, Serial No. 548,195, filed August 5, 1944,

A further object of this invention is to provide an air pump for providing pulsating air impulses, which is simple in construction so that it will be rugged and durable.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide an air pump of this kind which is made as part of the sewing machine and eliminatesthe necessity of attaching an air pump to the machine in order to provide a pulsating air impulse.A `With the labove objects in view, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangements of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail elevation of the head of a sewing machine with the cover removed therefrom, and embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure l, but partly in section, and showing the needle carrier at its uppermost position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of the Cylinder and needle carrier guide removed from the head.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of a moded form of this invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of another modification of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the numeral Ill designates generally the head of a sewing machine of conventional construction, which has journalled therein a rotatable drive shaft II. A plate I2 is secured to the shaft II, and plate I2 has extended therefrom an eccentrically disposed pin I3 on which one end of a link I4 is rockably mounted. Avertically slidable needle carrier shaft I5 is slidable in a lower bearing I6 formed as part of the head I0, and shaft I5 is also slidable in a cylindrical sleeve Il depending from an enlargement I8 formed as part of the upper portion of head I0.

Sleeve l1 constitutes not only the guide for needle carrier l5, but also constitutes a pumping cylinder. Sleeve II, at its upper portion, is provided with an enlarged upper body I3 which is adapted to be firmly secured within supporting body or boss I8. The bore 2B of sleeve or cylinder II, is longer than the stroke of needle carrier shaft I5, so that there Will be provided ample surface contact between bore 20 and shaft I5 when the latter is at its lowermost position. Carrier I5, at its upper end, constitutes a piston 22 which is formed with a pair of lubricating grooves 23, the latter functioning asuid piston rings.

A plug 24 is inserted in the upper end of bore V23, being frictionally held therein, and cylinder I S, at a point just below the lower end of plug 24, is formed with an oil groove 25. Plug 24 is formed with a central bore 26, and a ribbed nipple 2l extends from the upper end of plug 24. Plug 24 is also formed with an annular flange 23 which is adapted to bear against the upper end of cylinder il, and the periphery of flange 28 may be knurled to present a decorative effect. If desired, plug 24 and nipple 2! may be formed integral with cylinder Il.

Nipple 2l is adapted to have connected therewith one end of a flexible tube 29, and the other end of flexible tube 29 is connected to the relooping needle assembly for operating such assembly by the pulsating air generated by .the reciprocation of needle carrier shaft I5.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of this invention which is designed for incorporation with sewing machines wherein the needle carrier shaft projects upwardly above the upper side of the head. In this form of the invention the needle carrier shaft 30 is slidable in a guide opening 3l formed in the head 32 at the upper end of the latter, and shaft 30, at the upper end of its upper stroke, is adapted to project above the top of head 32 a substantial distance.

A cylinder 33 is formed with a threaded lower end 34 which is threaded into a counter bore 35 provided in head 32, and a flange 36 limits the extension of the lower end of cylinder 33 within counterbore 35. The shaft 30 is formed preferably with at least a pair of oil grooves 3l adjacent the upper end thereof, and cylinder 33 is also formed with an oil groove 38 at substantially the upper end of the upper stroke of shaft 30 so that oil removed from the inner wall of cylinder 33 by shaft 30 will be forced into oil groove 38.

Cylinder 33 includes a head 39 formed integral therewith, and head 39 is provided with a central bore 40. A ribbed nipple 4| extends upwardly from cylinder head 39, and is formed with a bore coaxial with a bore or opening 40 in head 39.

The construction shown in Figure 4 is designed Where a threaded protective cap is provided on the upper side of head 32, the protective cap normally provided for shaft 30 being removed and cylinder 33 replacing this cap and encompassing the upper end of shaft 30.

The construction shown in Figure is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 4 except that the construction shown in Figure 5 is designed where the head of the sewing machine is provided with the conventional upper guide. In this form the needle carrier shaft 42 is slidable in a, guide opening 43 formed in the upper portion of the head 44, The opening 43, at its upper end, is counter-bored as at 45, and the lower end of a cylinder 4B is frictionally held Within the counter-bore 45. The upper portion of shaft 42 is formed preferably with at least a pair of oil grooves 41, and cylinder 46 is also formed with an oil groove 48 at substantially the upper end of the stroke of needle carrier shaft 42. Cylinder 46 is formed with a head 49 and a nipple 50 extends from head 49 being provided with a central passage 5l communicating with the interio'r of cylinder 4S through head 49. Nipple 50 is adapted to have connected therewith one end lof the air conducting tube associated with the 4relooping needle assembly previously mentioned.

In the use and operation of this construction, the normal upper guide bearing for the needle shaft I5 is removed and cylinder l1 is substituted therefor. The bore of cylinder Il is provided with a very close tolerance with respect to shaft i5 so that'air pressure and suction will be generated by the reciprocating movement of shaft I5. The reciprocation of shaft l5 will thereby provide pulsating air impulses which may be communicated to a relooping needle assembly for operating such assembly for repair of knitted fabrics or the like.

While I have shown plug 24 as bein-g frictionally held in operative position, it will be understood that plug 24 and nipple 2l may be made integral with cylinder l 1, if considered desirable. This construction will provide a permanent pump installation which can be optionally used with a -relooping needle assembly for repairing stockings or other knitted fabric.

The combination hereinbefore described will not interfere in any manner with the normal use of the sewing machine and will not require any additional effort or force to operate the same.

I claim:

In a relooping needle assembly including a closed'operating circuit iilled with air; the combination with a sewing machine head of a depending elongated sleeve carried by said head, a reciprocating needle carrier slidable in said sleeve and formed with lubricating grooves,`said sleeve and said needle carrier forming respectively a cylinder and piston, a nipple extending from the upper end of said sleeve for receiving one end of a iiexible tube interposed in said closed circuit whereby reciprocation of said carrier will eilect alternate compression and suction of the air in said cylinder and closed operating circuit.

v WALTER O. RUNCIE.

BEFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Le Vesconte May 11, 1937 

